Multi-positionable bottle closure for selective safety or general use

ABSTRACT

An improved bottle closure having a reversible feature which permits alternate selection between limited (child-resistant) access or unlimited (general) access to the contents stored within the bottle.

United States Patent Benson Dec. 16, 1975 MULTl-POSITIONABLE BOTTLE CLOSURE [56] References Cited FOR SELECTIVE SAFETY OR GENERAL UNITED STATES PATENTS USE 3,860,133 l/l975 Boxer et a1. 215/224 [76] Inventor: Louis Benson, 1075 Old Ford Road, 3,865,267 2/1975 Morris 215/224 Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006 [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1974 Przmary Examiner-George T. Hall [21] Appl. NO; 531,624 57 ABSTRACT An improved bottle closure having a reversible feature 5/ 215/ 224 which permits alternate selection between limited B651) 565D 85/56 (child-resistant) access or unlimited (general) access Field 0i Search 224, to the contents-stored within the bottle.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 23 323A Fig. 2 a; I

I2 t 34 l REMOVE FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE 'l' I a- UNLIMITED ACCESS I PORTION 14c & 140 14 LIMITED'ACCESS 22 PORTION v I 14 1 14C l REVERS/BLE- STOPPER/CAP FOR GENERAL usE: I INSERT/WITHDRAW STOPPER 1.

MULTI-POSITIONABLE- BOTTLE CLOSURE FOR SELECTIVE sAFETv OR GENERAL USE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

ulations; wherein containers for the storage of many Example A a. ALIGN ARROWS. N CAP AND BOTTLE b. PUsH CAP UP WITH THUMB or,

Example B a. PUSH DOWN AND ROTATE CAP IN DIREC- TION OF ARROWS b. LIFT CAP UP TO REMOVE It should be noted that the limited access closure depicted in the drawings herein relates, generally, to Example A, above, and also to subject matter of the Horvath US. Pat. No. 3,627,160; though the illustrated showing is not intended to be restrictive, and may take other forms, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the instant invention.

While child-resistant containers are successful in accomplishing their intended purpose toward small children, it has been found that certain adult groups have like-wise experienced at least a minor degree of frustration in opening them. For example:

a. Arthritics, or others, may lack the required manual dexterity.

b. Heart patients may panic if required medication is not immediately accessible; thus compounding their particular medical problem.

c. The visually infirm may find some alignment requirements to be beyond their physical capabilities.

d. 'Those endowed with a lesser than average degree of mechanical aptitude may also experience difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefor an object of this invention to provide a dual-mode container closure which permits the responsible user to select either limited (child-resistant) access to the stored materials, or unlimited (general) access to same. Whereas, households with vulnerable small children to protect, would obviously tend to select and use the limited access portion of the inventive closure; childless households could be free to utilize the unlimited accessportion, at-their option.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container closure which presents expanded gripping and leverage surfaces (when used in the limited access mode) without loss of any of its child-resistant capabilities. Whereas, households containing both small children PLUS elderly or infirm adults, may be assured that each group will be'served to the intended extent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the inventive closure.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation (partially cut away) showing the inventive closure in the unlimited (general) access mode. 7

FIG. 3 is a side elevation showing the inventive closure in the limited (child-resistant) access mode.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial pictorial view showing the neck portion of 'a bottle adapted to receive and secured one form of limited access closure.

DETAILE DESCRIPTION oF THE DRAWINGS Referring again to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout theseveral views; there is shown in FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of the inventive reversible closure.

Closure 10 is comprised of stopper (or plug) portion 12 which may be integrally formed at flange 14D with cap (or skirt) portion 14. Removable disc 15, which rests atop inwardly projecting lugs 14A and 14B, fits snugly within cap 14 to form a secondary storage compartment within closure 10 itself, if desired, when said closure is utilized in the unlimited access mode of FIG. 2. Such an additional storage compartment would be especially useful for the daily storage of medicinal dosages. Of course, disc 15 must be removed when said closure is being utilized in the limited access mode of FIGS. 3 and 4.

As indicated in FIG. 3, stopper 12 represents the unlimited access portion of the closure 10, and cap 14 represents the limited access portion.

To attain the unlimited access (general) mode, as shown in FIG. 2, stopper 12 is inserted snugly into aperture 20A of bottle 20 until flange 14D becomes fully seated on mouth 20B. When this is accomplished, the cotton filler material 34 becomes downwardly compressed against pills (tablets, capsules or the like) 32 in the storage area of bottle 20; thus, allowing a minimum of vibration between pills 32 during shipment. Closure 10 may, of course, be pulled upwardly for easy removal from bottle 20.

In the limited access (child-resistant) mode, as shown in FIG. 3, cap portion 14 is placed over the neck por- Lug 14B is located along the same radial plain within a fi t cap eans on said closure having form ed cap 14 as corresponding lugs 14 An arrow Shaped thereon a securing surface for sealingly mating with b 14C th said access opening; ta on 6 Outer penphery of cap comcldes a second cap means extending from said first cap with the location of lug 14B.

means having formed thereon a securing surface A disahgnment of arrows 14C and 23A would lndifoor lockingly mating with said access opening; cate that lugs 14A and 14B are secured under locking an elongated i i Surface on id fi cap means hence, the removal of p 14 from bottle 20 cooperating with the securing surface on said seccannot occur. end cap means by providing leverage capability to assist in unlocking said second cap means from said access opening. 2. A multi-positionable closure according to claim 1,

further comprising;

Removal of cap 14 from bottle 20 may be accom- 10 plished, only, by rotating said cap or bottle until arrows 14C and 23A are aligned, thus freeing lug 14B for movement away from Then an obliquely said first cap means including a first cylinder, being ward,thu mb Pressure on l l arrow 14C 9 Stopper elongated and contiguously attached to a plate 12 disengage the remammg g 14A, Secured 15 member to close the one end of said first cylinder;

below rim 22, and closure 10 may be freely separated at least a portion of the remaining surfaces on said from bottle 20. first cylinder being formed to sealingly mate with It should be noted that application of thumb pressure Said access p 3. A multi-positionable closure according to claim 2, further comprising,

said second cap means including a second cylinder to stopper 12, rather than arrow tab 14C, offers an added gripping area and mechanical advantage; hence providing an easier closure 10 removal for individuals contiguously attached to Said plate member to with manual dexterity handicaps, such as Arthrltics or close the one end of Said Second cylinder; the at least a portion of the remaining surfaces on said In the foregoing drawings and specification, there is second cylinder being formed to lockingly mate specifically disclosed only the preferred embodiment of with said access opening. the invention, though it will be readily realized th 4. A multi-positionable closure according to claim 3, various modifications may be made without departing further compl'lsmgi from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as a and Second cylmders bemg coaxlally a g g 1:: gi zzgzgi clams a disc member being releasably insertable into said second cylinder opposite said plate member to 1. multi-positionable closure for a container, the Selectively form a closed storage chamber within container having an access opening formed thereon, aid Second ]i d the improvement comprising: 

1. A multi-positionable closure for a container, the container having an access opening formed thereon, the improvement comprising: a first cap means on said closure having formed thereon a securing surface for sealingly mating with said access opening; a second cap means extending from said first cap means having formed thereon a securing surface foor lockingly mating with said access opening; an elongated gripping surface on said first cap means cooperating with the securing surface on said second cap means by providing leverage capability to assist in unlocking said second cap means from said access opening.
 2. A multi-positionable closure according to claim 1, further comprising; said first cap means including a first cylinder, being elongated and contiguously attached to a plate member to close the one end of said first cylinder; at least a portion of the remaining surfaces on said first cylinder being formed to sealingly mate with said access opening.
 3. A multi-positionable closure according to claim 2, further comprising, said second cap means including a second cylinder contiguously attached to said plate member to close the one end of said second cylinder; at least a portion of the remaining surfaces on said second cylinder being formed to lockingly mate with said access opening.
 4. A multi-positionable closure according to claim 3, further comprising: said first and second cylinders being coaxially aligned; a disc member being releasably insertable into said second cylinder opposite said plate member to selectively form a closed storage chamber within said second cylinder. 